Why am I having trouble getting an answer to this question?
I'm not asking how to use the battery or when I should replace mine.
I'm saying, is it ok to leave the laptop charging cable plugged in to the laptop, even when the battery does not need charging? I'm asking because I've read somewhere that the battery automatically stops drawing power when it has reached 100%. This may or may not be wrong.
The battery is automatically charged whenever the computer is plugged in. Dell advises that you leave the battery in the system at all times so it will retain its charge. It will not harm the battery to leave it in the system, even if you are always using the computer on AC power.
What you may notice however is that laptops sitting on a desk or worse on a carpet tend to Heat up.
This heat cooks the battery. Cooling Trays Help. My personal experience is that removing the battery after charging and keeping in a cool dry place extends the life of the battery.
HOWEVER. If you do not use a GENUINE Dell Battery and or Charger you could have problems including laptop fire.
There were a few models from dell that were subject to *** for safety reasons.
How long does a Dell laptop battery last? When should I consider replacing mine?
A
All rechargeable batteries wear out with time and usage. As time and cumulative use increase, the performance will degrade. For the typical user, noticeable reduction in run time generally will be observed after 18 to 24 months. For a power user, reduction in run time generally may be experienced prior to 18 months. We recommend buying a new Dell laptop battery when the run time does not meet your needs.
How should I choose between two batteries with different Watt hours (Whr) available on one system?
A
Higher Watt hours (Whr) on the same system under the same operating conditions will generally deliver longer battery run time. For example, if you compare the same system, running the same applications, the 53Whr battery would provide approximately 65% more run time than the 32Whr battery.
How long am I able to use my Dell laptop on a fully charged battery?
A
Many factors affect the amount of time that a portable computer battery can deliver power before it must be recharged. These factors include the configuration (processor, memory, etc.), types of applications being run and display brightness.
Dell uses industry standard benchmarks for battery run time claims. For more information on battery run times and benchmarks, the white paper, "Understanding Battery Life in Portable Computers" is available at:
How long does it take for a Dell laptop battery to fully recharge?
A
The charge time varies depending on the system. If the system supports ExpressChargeTM , the battery typically will have greater than 80% charge after about an hour of charging, and fully charge in about 2 hours with the system off.
For a system advertised as having the ExpressChargeTM feature, the battery typically will have greater than 80% charge after about an hour of charging and fully charge in about 2 hours with the system off.
Dell offers a Datamation battery charger for large institution customers. The charger has 16 charge bays to charge batteries for Latitude D500/D505/D510/D520/D600/D610 laptop systems. The product can be found at Dell.com here:
Yes, very easy. First, make sure all open files are saved. Next, either attach the AC adapter directly to the laptop or set the system to "hibernate" mode or shut off. Release the latch on the current battery, and simply install the replacement battery.
Dell has a rigorous qualification process by which all Dell batteries are validated to ensure proper function, performance and safety. Some non-Dell batteries are available in the market with claims of compatibility with Dell systems. Dell cannot verify these claims, nor the safety of using them in a Dell system. Dell strongly encourages our customers to use only Dell laptop batteries advertised as appropriate for their laptop model. Only Dell laptop batteries come with a 1-year warranty, are engineered for optimal safety and performance for Dell systems, and are supported by Dell technical support for the length of the warranty period.
In some laptop systems Dell offers a battery that can be used in the optical drive media bay (DVD/CD drive bay). This enables the use of two batteries, potentially extending the available run time.
If I install a modular bay battery, are my primary and modular bay batteries working at the same time to power my laptop computer?
A
No, the modular bay battery is used first, then the system automatically switches to the primary battery. This is a deliberate design to allow the most amount of run time to remain in the primary battery in case the modular bay battery is removed and replaced with an optical drive.
For what use is the strip of LED lights on my battery?
A
Most Dell batteries have an LED indicator that allows users to see how much run time and how much overall battery life are available at the touch of a button.
To check battery charge, press the button and the number of lights that appear will tell you charge status. If all lights appear, you have a fully charged battery. Each light that appears accounts for approximately 20% charge.
To check the battery health, press and hold the status button on the battery charge gauge for at least 3 seconds. If no lights appear, the battery is in good condition and approximately more than 80 percent of its original charge capacity remains. Each light represents incremental degradation. If five lights appear, approximately less than 60 percent of the charge capacity remains, and you should consider replacing the battery.
What does Dell recommend for battery storage for a long period of time?
A
When storing for more than 4 days these guidelines can better preserve the life of your battery:
Do not store batteries for long periods plugged into or attached to any power source. This includes AC adapters and laptop security carts plugged into an outlet.
Laptop batteries, including those stored in laptop systems, should maintain an Operational Storage Temperature of 0° to 35°C (32° to 95°F).
Batteries may be stored in the laptop or outside of the laptop.
Charge batteries before storing. The recommended charging time should not exceed 1 hour. Typically, this should charge the battery to between 80% and 100%. (Some discharge will take place over time. Stored batteries are expected to discharge 10-15% over a four month period, for your information.)
Are there restriction with taking lithium-ion batteries on planes?
A
Effective January 1, 2008, the Department of Transportation (DOT) through the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA) will no longer allow loose lithium batteries in checked baggage. These batteries may continue to be packed in carry-on baggage. For more information: http://www.tsa.gov/travelers/airtravel/assistant/batteries.shtm
How should I choose the right battery for my new system?
A
When choosing a battery, the main quality that you need to consider is the amount of energy that can be stored in a battery. This is measured in Watt- Hours (Wh). For longer runtime per charge, choose a battery with a greater Wh rating
If you want.
Choose.
Trade off.
Longer runtime
Higher capacity
. Higher cost . Heavier weight
Lighter weight
Lower capacity
Lower runtime
Lower cost
Lower capacity
Lower runtime
Note: When used under the same conditions, a lower capacity battery will wear out faster than a higher capacity battery because it has to be charged more often.
Does Dell recommend the use of a non-Dell replacement battery?
A
Dell recommends that you replace your battery with a genuine Dell battery obtained from Dell. When using a genuine Dell battery, you can be assured that you have a battery that has been designed, qualified and manufactured to strict Dell quality standards. For safety and performance always use a genuine Dell battery purchased from Dell.
Dell does not evaluate the design or check the quality of non-Dell replacement battery packs. The quality and safety is unknown when using such batteries.
Some non-Dell batteries are available in the market with claims of compatibility with Dell laptops. Dell does not verify these claims or the safety of using them in a Dell laptop. Dell strongly encourages our customers to use only Dell laptop batteries advertised as appropriate for their laptop model. Only Dell batteries are engineered for optimal safety and performance for Dell systems and are supported by Dell technical support for the length of the limited hardware warranty period.
For copy of Ltd Hardware Warranty, write Dell USA LP, Attn: Warranties, One Dell Way, Round Rock, TX 78682 or see www.dell.com/warranty.
There are several things you can do to make your battery last longer:
Choose the right battery. Under the same use conditions, a lower capacity battery will wear out faster than a higher capacity battery because it has to be charged more often.
Use the notebook's power saving controls to reduce battery use in your normal day. For example, turn the Bluetooth off if it is not needed; reduce the screen brightness when conditions permit.
Avoid exposure to extreme temperatures. If the system is exposed to extreme cold or hot temperatures, allow it to warm up/cool down before use and before charging.
Contrary to last decades' batteries, modern lithium ion batteries do not need to be fully discharged to maintain health.
All batteries wear with use and time. When you find the runtime is no longer satisfactory, it may be time to purchase a new Dell battery.
It is important to choose settings which allow you to obtain the most runtime from your notebook. Examples to consider: timeout settings for the hard drive, Bluetooth, wireless, LCD brightness, etc.
The life span of a laptop battery depends on a number of factors and is hard to predict. All rechargeable batteries wear out with time and use. As the battery begins to reach the end of its life, you will notice a decline in the runtime of the battery.
How long am I able to use my Dell laptop on a fully charged battery?
A
Many factors affect the amount of time that a laptop battery can deliver power before it must be recharged. Personal usage (your LCD brightness setting) has a large effect on battery run time and will vary greatly between different users and systems. Other factors include the system configuration (battery size, processor type, memory, etc.), and the types of applications being run (playing DVDs or games).
Dell uses industry standard benchmarks for battery run time claims
Actual battery life will vary based on configuration, operating conditions and other factors. Maximum battery capacity decreases with time and use.
Should I completely discharge my battery before I charge it?
A
No, with current lithium ion batteries this practice does not improve the runtime of the battery. This practice is a holdover from the days in which NiMH batteries were used.
For a battery advertised as having the ExpressChargeT feature, the battery typically will have greater than 80% charge after about an hour of charging with the system off, and fully charge in about 2 hours with the system off.
How long does it take for a Dell laptop battery to fully recharge?
A
The charge time varies depending on the system. If the battery supports ExpressChargeT, the battery typically will have greater than 80% charge after about an hour of charging with the system off, and fully charge in about 2 hours with the system off. Batteries that do not support ExpressChargeT typically charge in about 3 hours with the system off. See your system's user's manual for more information.
To check battery charge, press the button and the number of LED lights that appear will tell you charge status. If all lights appear, you have a fully charged battery. Each light that appears accounts for approximately 20% charge.
How does Dell recommend batteries be stored for a long period of time?
A
For extended storage (over 21 - 30 days), these guidelines can better preserve the life of your battery:
If it's a new battery, store it in its box until you need it. Otherwise, charge or discharge the battery to 40 - 60% capacity using your Windows operating system power meter, then remove it from your system.
Store in a standard office environment, away from extreme temperatures.
If possible, don't buy batteries until you need them.
Why does the battery have a different warranty period than my system?
A
Dell's standard battery warranty is one year. Batteries are a consumable item. All batteries degrade with time and use. The warranty is very similar to common auto warranties which exclude consumable items such as tires.
For copy of Ltd Hardware Warranty, write Dell USA LP, Attn: Warranties, One Dell Way, Round Rock, TX 78682 or see www.dell.com/warranty.
Where can I find the Materials Safety Datasheet (MSDS) for my battery?
A
To find the MSDS for a specific battery, please see the Product Safety, EMC and Environmental Datasheet published within the drop-down menus at this website: http://www.dell.com/regulatory_compliance_datasheets
If you are seeking a Materials Safety Datasheet for a product(s) which is no longer available for purchase, please send an e-mail to the Regulatory_Compliance@dell.com mailbox with the laptop computer name and the battery part number for the relevant product(s) included in the body of the e-mail.
speedstep
9 Legend
•
47K Posts
1
January 5th, 2011 09:00
Batteries overheat and Dry out.
If its used mostly plugged in then remove the battery and keep in a cool dry place recharging once a month.
Nobody guarantees batteries for more than 1 year.
Average 300 to 500 cycles and they are dead.
Never charging and over charging will kill them as well.
Vigaku
2 Posts
1
January 5th, 2011 09:00
Why am I having trouble getting an answer to this question?
I'm not asking how to use the battery or when I should replace mine.
I'm saying, is it ok to leave the laptop charging cable plugged in to the laptop, even when the battery does not need charging? I'm asking because I've read somewhere that the battery automatically stops drawing power when it has reached 100%. This may or may not be wrong.
speedstep
9 Legend
•
47K Posts
1
January 5th, 2011 10:00
Troubleshooting Notebook Battery and AC Adapter Issues
Charging a Battery
The battery is automatically charged whenever the computer is plugged in. Dell advises that you leave the battery in the system at all times so it will retain its charge. It will not harm the battery to leave it in the system, even if you are always using the computer on AC power.
What you may notice however is that laptops sitting on a desk or worse on a carpet tend to Heat up.
This heat cooks the battery. Cooling Trays Help. My personal experience is that removing the battery after charging and keeping in a cool dry place extends the life of the battery.
HOWEVER. If you do not use a GENUINE Dell Battery and or Charger you could have problems including laptop fire.
There were a few models from dell that were subject to *** for safety reasons.
Dell Battery Return Program
Dell Official Site: Laptop Battery FAQ | Dell
Many factors affect the amount of time that a portable computer battery can deliver power before it must be recharged. These factors include the configuration (processor, memory, etc.), types of applications being run and display brightness.
Dell uses industry standard benchmarks for battery run time claims. For more information on battery run times and benchmarks, the white paper, "Understanding Battery Life in Portable Computers" is available at:
laptop systems. The product can be found at Dell.com here:
Most Dell batteries have an LED indicator that allows users to see how much run time and how much overall battery life are available at the touch of a button.
To check battery charge, press the button and the number of lights that appear will tell you charge status. If all lights appear, you have a fully charged battery. Each light that appears accounts for approximately 20% charge.
To check the battery health, press and hold the status button on the battery charge gauge for at least 3 seconds. If no lights appear, the battery is in good condition and approximately more than 80 percent of its original charge capacity remains. Each light represents incremental degradation. If five lights appear, approximately less than 60 percent of the charge capacity remains, and you should consider replacing the battery.
When storing for more than 4 days these guidelines can better preserve the life of your battery:
For more information: http://www.tsa.gov/travelers/airtravel/assistant/batteries.shtm
. Heavier weight
jrszabo
2 Intern
•
183 Posts
0
January 5th, 2011 10:00
Are supposed unplug the charger from the wall and/or the PC after you shut down?
osprey4
4 Operator
•
34.2K Posts
0
January 5th, 2011 10:00
There's your answer.